help determining value

samuel28 · 03-16-2008, 10:10 AM

I inherited a handgun and I need help determining its value. It is a Colt Frontier Scout 22 LR - serial no. 156410 I was told by Colt mfg. that this is a 1st generation gun - made in the 1800's. The gun is in excellent condition. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

rfc357 · 03-16-2008, 10:42 AM

If it is a Frontier Scout:

First year of production: 1957.

Is there an "F" or a "K" after the serial number? Made in the 1960s Tell me the letter and I can narrow it down.

If it is a Peacemaker, or Frontier Six-Shooter, it would date to 1895.

samuel28 · 03-16-2008, 11:33 AM

This is actually my mother in laws - her husband passed and she is left with his gun collection. She claims that the only markings on the gun are Colt Frontier Scout 22 LR and then the serial no. I listed. There are no additional letters on the gun such as "F" or "K" She called Colt mfg. direct and they looked up that serial no. for her and told her that it was manufactured btwn 1884-1886. In order to give her a value, they wanted $100-150 to do an archive search. If it were a six-shooter, would that be written on the gun or is that just a reference to how many bullets it will hold - it does hold six. Sorry for my lack of knowledge but that is all I know at this point.

rfc357 · 03-16-2008, 01:14 PM

There is an easy way to tell which gun it is. A Peacemaker or Frontier six shooter will have three screws through the frame just above the trigger. A Frontier Scout will have two screws. It is possible the person at Colt misunderstood the question and looked up the serial number for the wrong gun. Colt generally numbers its revolvers 1, 2, 3 etc. for each model, so it is possible to have two different models with the same serial number.
However, if it says "Frontier Scout," it is probably a Frontier Scout. These guns started in production in 1957.
A real first-generation single action in .22 is rare, and is worth a lot of money. (There were fewer than 200 first-generation guns made in .22 rimfire, and some were made before the .22 lr even existed.) It would take consultation with an advanced Colt collector to determine the value of such a gun.
A Frontier Scout, on the other hand, would be fairly common and would be priced as a shooter. Still a few hundred dollars or so, just because of the "Colt" name.
No need to apologize for your lack of knowledge. Asking questions is how we learn.

gcsod45 · 03-16-2008, 03:02 PM

Sounds like a really nice gun. See if you can put up a pic. Also do you know the phone she called at Colt to get them to look up the serial number?

Mooseman684 · 03-16-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samuel28

This is actually my mother in laws - her husband passed and she is left with his gun collection. She claims that the only markings on the gun are Colt Frontier Scout 22 LR and then the serial no. I listed. There are no additional letters on the gun such as "F" or "K" She called Colt mfg. direct and they looked up that serial no. for her and told her that it was manufactured btwn 1884-1886. In order to give her a value, they wanted $100-150 to do an archive search. If it were a six-shooter, would that be written on the gun or is that just a reference to how many bullets it will hold - it does hold six. Sorry for my lack of knowledge but that is all I know at this point.

There Is something Missing Here...It should also say" Colt's PT.F.A.MFG.CO.,Hartford, CT.,U.S.A." atop the Barrel...
Colt "Frontier" revolvers Made in the Early 1800's would NOT be Marked "SCOUT"....That did not happen until 1957.
Condition and if she has the Original box determines Value...100% with Box is 660.00 Minimum...98% without Box=400.00 to give you an Idea...Of a Colt Frontier Scout.
Rich

samuel28 · 03-17-2008, 12:53 PM

I will do some more digging and see if I can't get a picture. She has taken all of my father-in-laws handguns and placed them in a lock box b/c she is afraid of keeping them around the house so access to them is not easy for me - she lives 2 hr. away. He had dozens of guns including black powder handguns, rifles, etc. Any suggestions on one place or book that would help her determine the value of the lot?

Mooseman684 · 03-17-2008, 01:12 PM

I will suggest you purchase a "Blue Book of Gun Values" for most of your Name brand firearms, but it doesnt cover The Blackpowder guns...That is another book.
If you can get me a list of what you have, Brands, Caliber and Condition, i will do what I can to assist you in evaluating and pricing Them, Or point you in the right direction.
Rich

samuel28 · 03-18-2008, 09:15 AM

Thanks Mooseman - I'll be in touch. It will probably take a little while to get it all together.

03-16-2008, 10:10 AM	#1
samuel28 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 5	help determining value I inherited a handgun and I need help determining its value. It is a Colt Frontier Scout 22 LR - serial no. 156410 I was told by Colt mfg. that this is a 1st generation gun - made in the 1800's. The gun is in excellent condition. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

03-16-2008, 01:14 PM	#4
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	There is an easy way to tell which gun it is. A Peacemaker or Frontier six shooter will have three screws through the frame just above the trigger. A Frontier Scout will have two screws. It is possible the person at Colt misunderstood the question and looked up the serial number for the wrong gun. Colt generally numbers its revolvers 1, 2, 3 etc. for each model, so it is possible to have two different models with the same serial number. However, if it says "Frontier Scout," it is probably a Frontier Scout. These guns started in production in 1957. A real first-generation single action in .22 is rare, and is worth a lot of money. (There were fewer than 200 first-generation guns made in .22 rimfire, and some were made before the .22 lr even existed.) It would take consultation with an advanced Colt collector to determine the value of such a gun. A Frontier Scout, on the other hand, would be fairly common and would be priced as a shooter. Still a few hundred dollars or so, just because of the "Colt" name. No need to apologize for your lack of knowledge. Asking questions is how we learn. Last edited by rfc357; 03-16-2008 at 01:27 PM.

03-16-2008, 03:02 PM	#5
gcsod45 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southeast Aridzona Posts: 43	Samuel Sounds like a really nice gun. See if you can put up a pic. Also do you know the phone she called at Colt to get them to look up the serial number?

03-17-2008, 01:12 PM	#8
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 8,919	I will suggest you purchase a "Blue Book of Gun Values" for most of your Name brand firearms, but it doesnt cover The Blackpowder guns...That is another book. If you can get me a list of what you have, Brands, Caliber and Condition, i will do what I can to assist you in evaluating and pricing Them, Or point you in the right direction. Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

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03-16-2008, 10:42 AM	#2
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	If it is a Frontier Scout: First year of production: 1957. Is there an "F" or a "K" after the serial number? Made in the 1960s Tell me the letter and I can narrow it down. If it is a Peacemaker, or Frontier Six-Shooter, it would date to 1895.

03-16-2008, 11:33 AM	#3
samuel28 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 5	This is actually my mother in laws - her husband passed and she is left with his gun collection. She claims that the only markings on the gun are Colt Frontier Scout 22 LR and then the serial no. I listed. There are no additional letters on the gun such as "F" or "K" She called Colt mfg. direct and they looked up that serial no. for her and told her that it was manufactured btwn 1884-1886. In order to give her a value, they wanted $100-150 to do an archive search. If it were a six-shooter, would that be written on the gun or is that just a reference to how many bullets it will hold - it does hold six. Sorry for my lack of knowledge but that is all I know at this point.

03-17-2008, 12:53 PM	#7
samuel28 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 5	I will do some more digging and see if I can't get a picture. She has taken all of my father-in-laws handguns and placed them in a lock box b/c she is afraid of keeping them around the house so access to them is not easy for me - she lives 2 hr. away. He had dozens of guns including black powder handguns, rifles, etc. Any suggestions on one place or book that would help her determine the value of the lot?

03-18-2008, 09:15 AM	#9
samuel28 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 5	Thanks Mooseman - I'll be in touch. It will probably take a little while to get it all together.